2014 -- H 7258 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Craven, and Lally

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 11 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL OFFENSES" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 69

ELECTRONIC TRACKING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

     11-69-1. Electronic Tracking of Motor Vehicles. – (a)(1) Except as provided in

subsection (b), it is an offense for a person to knowingly install, conceal or otherwise place an

electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle without the consent of the operator and all

occupants of the vehicle for the purpose of monitoring or following the operator, occupant or

occupants of the vehicle.

     (2) As used in this section, "person" does not include the manufacturer of the motor

vehicle or entities that rent motor vehicles.

     (b)(1) It shall not be a violation if the installation, concealment, or placement of an

electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle is by, or at the direction of a law enforcement

officer in furtherance of a criminal investigation and is carried out in accordance with the

applicable state and federal law.

     (2) If the installation, concealment, or placement of an electronic tracking device in or on

a motor vehicle is by, or at the direction of a parent or legal guardian who owns or leases the

vehicle, and if the device is used solely for the purpose of monitoring the minor child of the

parent or legal guardian when the child is an occupant of the vehicle, then the installation,

concealment or placement of the device in or on the vehicle without the consent of any or all

occupants in the vehicle shall not be a violation.

      (3) It shall not be a violation of this section if an electronic tracking device is attached to

stolen goods for the purpose of tracking the location of the stolen goods, whether or not they may

be transported in a vehicle, or if installed, concealed, or placed in or on a vehicle as a vehicle theft

recovery device.

     (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a tracking system installed by the

manufacturer of a motor vehicle, or installed by an entity renting out vehicles.

     (d) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison, or

up to a one thousand dollar ($1000) fine, or both.

     SECTION 2. Section 12-29-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29 entitled "Domestic

Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     12-29-2. Definitions. -- (a) "Domestic violence" includes, but is not limited to, any of the

following crimes when committed by one family or household member against another:

      (1) Simple assault (section 11-5-3);

      (2) Felony assaults (sections 11-5-1, 11-5-2, and 11-5-4);

      (3) Vandalism (section 11-44-1);

      (4) Disorderly conduct (section 11-45-1);

      (5) Trespass (section 11-44-26);

      (6) Kidnapping (section 11-26-1);

      (7) Child-snatching (section 11-26-1.1);

      (8) Sexual assault (sections 11-37-2, 11-37-4);

      (9) Homicide (sections 11-23-1 and 11-23-3);

      (10) Violation of the provisions of a protective order entered pursuant to section 15-5-19,

chapter 15 of title 15, or chapter 8.1 of title 8 where the respondent has knowledge of the order

and the penalty for its violation or a violation of a no contact order issued pursuant to section 12-

29-4;

      (11) Stalking (sections 11-59-1 et seq.);

      (12) Refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct a telephone (section 11-35-14);

      (13) Burglary and Unlawful Entry (section 11-8-1 et seq.);

      (14) Arson (section 11-4-2 et seq.);

      (15) Cyberstalking and cyberharassment (section 11-52-4.2); and

      (16) Domestic assault by strangulation section 11-5-2.3.; and

      (17) Electronic tracking of motor vehicles (§ 11-69-1).

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      (b) "Family or household member" means spouses, former spouses, adult persons related

by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided

together in the past three (3) years, and persons who have a child in common regardless of

whether they have been married or have lived together, or if persons who are or have been in a

substantive dating or engagement relationship within the past one year which shall be determined

by the court's consideration of the following factors:

      (1) the length of time of the relationship;

      (2) the type of the relationship;

      (3) the frequence frequency of the interaction between the parties.

      (c) "Protective order" means an order issued pursuant to section 15-5-19, chapter 15 of

title 15, or chapter 8.1 of title 8.

      (d) "Victim" means a family or household member who has been subjected to domestic

violence.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES

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     This act would restrict the installation, concealment or placement of an electronic

tracking device in or on a motor vehicle, and would add electronic tracking devices to the

definition of "domestic violence" under the "Domestic Violence Protection Act".

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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